When To Start Receiving Retirement Benefits

You know that my practice involves Social Security Disability. This entry involves the "retirement" aspect of the Social Security Administration, something you may have considered or others have asked you about.

The Social Security Administration recently posted an excellent podcast that can be listened to on your computer. It can also be downloaded to listen to later on an ipod or other MP3 player.

Follow this link to the SSA page and you can download or listen to the podcast. There is also an option to request notification if the information changes as well.

I hope that you find this information helpful. Please CLICK the "email" enveleope below to send this to anyone that you know that may also find this helpful.

Thank you, and I appreciate your continued interest.

Social Security Perspectives: Frequently Asked Questions About Social Security Disability Benefits

Social Security Perspectives: Frequently Asked Questions About Social Security Disability Benefits

Will President-Elect Obama Replace The Commissioner Of The SSA?

There are many decisions and hard choices for President-elect Obama when he takes office January 20, 2009. These would include the direction to take on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, what to do about the economy, whether to bail out the three major car manufacturers perhaps. In the headlines recently have been his appointments to his cabinet.

A very important decision that could be made is about the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Michael J. Astrue. His is a six-year term that is not due to expire until January 19, 2013. He was confirmed by the Senate on 02/01/2007. George W. Bush appointed this Commissioner in part, it is believed, because his predecessor, Jo Anne B. Barnhart, did not buy in to the private savings account plan that Bush failed so miserably at trying to sell to the country and Congress. President-Elect Obama could leave Astrue in charge and do nothing. Let's hope that is not the case.

Since taking over, Astrue has done little to effectively improve the wait for social security disability hearings. The length of time to get to a hearing has in fact increased during his term. Further, one of his first moves was to cancel a new initiative which would have eliminated the Reconsideration level of appeal. This "reconsideration" step is largely seen as unnecessary and a further delay in the process, and had been studied for several years.

Veterans Day

Thank a veteran today.

Social Security Perspectives: Frequently Asked Questions About Social Security Disability Benefits

Social Security Perspectives: Frequently Asked Questions About Social Security Disability Benefits

Follow this link to frequently asked questions on Social Security issues. This list is compiled by Charles Hall, someone who has the background and experience to compile this list.

VOTE

Compassionate Allowances

The Social Security Administration has released a list of "Compassionate Allowances." According to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/ “Compassionate allowances are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments based on minimal objective medical information. Compassionate allowances will allow Social Security to quickly target the most obviously disabled individuals for allowances based on objective medical information that we can obtain quickly.”

There are 50 conditions on the list; the most notable is “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis” (ALS). The list was compiled after public hearings. A public hearing will be held to hopefully add another Diagnosis to this list: Brain Injuries - November 18, 2008.

I agree with Charles Hall that “ALS” is a very welcome part of this list but beyond it, the others have not been encountered by me in my twenty plus years practicing Social Security Disability. You can view Mr. Hall’s comments at SOCIAL SECURITY NEWS through the following link.

Direct Deposit and ETA

The safest way to receive Social Security benefits seems to be through direct deposit. "Your money is protected. Government agencies have rules to protect you in case of an error. The Social Security Administration has used Direct Deposit since 1976 and has never lost a payment. Plus, your money is protected up to $100,000 per depositor if it is deposited in a Federally insured institution."

Now, another tool has been added: ETA. This is an option, especially anyone with bad credit:

"An ETA Provider is required to open an ETA for any recipient of a Federal benefit, wage, salary, or retirement payment regardless of credit history, unless

(1) the financial institution is aware that the individual previously held an ETA that was closed because of fraud at any financial institution, or;

(2) the institution, for reasons of fraud or account misuse, previously closed an ETA held by the individual at that institution."

Carrying large amounts of cash is not always safe and both of these options provide one with a safe way to receive their benefits. Click here to see who provides these ETA services in your state.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance

Prescription prices are out of control. This is not a news flash. Clients consistently tell me that the cost of medication is the biggest problem they are facing.

According to its website "The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free. Its mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible." you can call toll-free, 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669).

I have no personal experience with this organization but offer it as a possible resource if you are facing the high costs of medication.

COLA TO RISE 5.8%

According to a press release today from the Social Security Administration today: "Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2007 through the third quarter of 2008, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a 5.8 percent COLA for 2009." SSI monthly benefits for an individual will increase to $674.00 per month and $1,011 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse.

IMPROVEMENT IN NATIONAL RANKING FOR ALJ WAITING PERIOD IN OMAHA NEBRASKA

Numbers recently released show improvement in the ranking and performance at the Hearings Office (Office of Disability, Adjudication & Review - ODAR) in Omaha, Nebraska. Figures released by the Social Security Administration indicate Omaha improved its national ranking of 147 offices from 112 to 104 in a short time (July 1 - September 3, 2008). The actual time to wait for an ALJ Hearing slipped a few days from 601 to 604.

See my previous post on this topic: WAITING - Statistics and Rankings for an ALJ Hearing in Omaha Also, see Charles Hall's excellent Blog SOCIAL SECURITY NEWS and his recent post on the backlog that includes rankings for all of the hearing offices.

These numbers are a dramatic improvement in Omaha without the addition of personnel. We can only hope that a new Congress and President will increase funding for SSA and seriously attack this problem. Without the workers, the work can't get done.

NPR Story on Social Security Backlog

NPR recently did a story about the backlog. Many posted comments, even an ALJ (Administrative Law Judge) that handles these cases! By clicking the title to this article you can view the comments, and even listen to the story by clicking here

WAITING - Statistics and Rankings for an ALJ Hearing in Omaha

Information effective July 1, 2008 identified the Omaha office of Hearings and Appeals as one in a group of 147 offices across the country. These offices are assigned to hear claims for disability, and the Omaha office is understaffed as the rankings reveal. The hearing is the "3rd step" in a claim for disability, indicating that two previous denials have been issued. That is, the "processing time" in the report only reflects the time the file was at the Omaha office from beginning to end, that is, from start to finish it is longer if the claim gets this far.

The magic numbers:
601 days for processing time
112 - rank of 147 other offices.

Indianapolis ranked last and the processing time is 896 days.

I am a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) and their recent newsletter published this information that was obtained from the Social Security Administration.

OMAHA HAS NEW OFFICE FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

After many years at 71st & West Center Road, the Omaha office has moved. Please note that the new address for the Social Security Administration (SSA) in Omaha, Nebraska is:

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
OLD MILL CENTRE
604 NORTH 109TH COURT
OMAHA NE 68154-1716

Their new phone number is 402-496-3520.

New website for SSA

Follow this link to SSA's new "look" as they have launched an upgraded version of their website. Find out how easy it is to use at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/ Commissioner Michael J. Astrue referred to the site released June 16, 2008 as SSA's new public face. It certainly appears to be an improvement!

Stuck between a rock and a disability hearing

Tombstone purchased with Disability back pay after person died waiting for hearing.